Los Angeles Basketball Teams Can't Beat the Injury Bug

Last night, Lakers Center/Forward Pau Gasol injured himself late in the fourth quarter against the Brooklyn Nets. The Lakers were already without All-Star Dwight Howard, who has missed the last three games with a shoulder injury. Unfortunately, Gasol “felt a pop” in his right foot and after the game was diagnosed with a strained right plantar fascia. It’s unclear of how much time Gasol will actually miss with this injury, but time is something the Lakers just don’t have.

The other Los Angeles basketball team has really been affected by the injury bug as of late, which could explain their 2-7 record in their last nine games. The Clippers All-Star Chris Paul has missed the last eight games with a bruised right knee. He will miss his ninth straight game tonight against the Orlando Magic. The Clippers will also be without All-Star Blake Griffin, who has a sore right hamstring, for the second straight game,. He played in 197 consecutive games before missing Monday night’s game against the Washington Wizards.

This injury bug has actually followed both teams all year-long.

The Clippers have been without Chauncey Billups for the majority of this season, who was injured last season, then came back for three games two months into this season, and hasn’t played since December 3rd because of another injury. The Clippers were also without Grant Hill, who missed the first two and a half months with an injury, eventually making his return on January 14th.

It seems as if everyone has caught the injury bug on the Lakers this season. They lost point guard Steve Nash for two months in just the second game of this season with a broken leg. The Lakers also lost backup point Steve Blake for 37 games with an injury. Gasol and Howard have both been injured more than once this season. It was a big blow to the Lakers when Jordan Hill went down with a hip injury last month, and injury that will cause him to miss the rest of the season.

The injury bug is something that happens often in professional sports. However, this season, it decided to affect both of the basketball teams that play in Los Angeles.